the university of opportunities

HALMSTAD UNIVERSITY • 1

halmstad universityFor the development of Organisations, Products and Quality of life.

the university of Opportunities

halmstad university

2 • HALMSTAD UNIVERSITY HALMSTAD UNIVERSITY • 3

key figures

15, 000 students6, 161 full-time students81 per cent performance indicator623 employees40 professors82 research students58 per cent post-doctoral teachers85 programmes (undergraduate, postgraduate, one- and two-year master’s courses)400 coursesTOTAL turnover sek 492 millioneDuCATiON turnover sek 394 millionreseArCH turnover sek 98 million, of which 50 per cent external financing

CONTeNTs

Welcome 5The university of opportunities 7One profile – three areas of strength 9Keeping the dream alive 11Contact with the working life 13Outstanding research 17Research education 21The University Library 21Developing together 23innovation support for growth 25studying in Halmstad 27

Figures for 2010


If I say the word “university”, what comes to mind? For me, I like to think back to my time as a student at Halm-stad University. It was one of the best periods of my life. A totally new world opened up when I started to study. I enjoyed it so much that I just kept going, and going – and now I am acting Vice-Chancellor here.

It is easy to see why Halmstad University is popular and so many people want to study here. Last year we had a record number of applicants to our programmes and courses, and we now have 15,000 students. Our research is outstanding and is internationally acknowledged in many areas.

We have plenty to offer, with opportunities for all being created here. The equal value of every single person is self-evident to us. The University is there for all and must be available to all. It is important for us that staff and students from different ethnic and social backgrounds feel welcome. Halmstad University works actively in the areas of equal opportunity and diversity.

In this brochure we tell you something about all the things going on here. I hope you will become curious and want to find out more.

Please feel free to contact us!

Carina Ihlström ErikssonActing Vice-Chancellor

WeLCOme


the university OF OPPOrtunitiesHalmstad University is a popular seat of learning. We are known for a rich range of courses and our special atmosphere. The thresholds are not high here. There is diversity and a wide range of choices, at the same time with a tangible proximity. Proximity between students and teachers, between subjects and between the Univer-sity and other players in society.

Our research is outstanding and has achieved international renown in many areas. Collaboration between people, between organisations and cultures is both im-portant and enriching, for both the individual and for society. Collaboration is absolutely necessary for research and development to develop. It is equally important that the knowledge that is developed here, at Halmstad University and at other seats of learning, can be used by people.

Ever since the beginning, collaboration has been one of the characteristics of Halmstad University. Our interac-tion with companies, associations, municipalities, county councils, schools and other players in the field of education and research is extensive. Every day there is coop-eration in various forms: projects, mentoring, guest speakers, work placements, degree projects and essays.

This is why we say that Halmstad University is the univer-sity of opportunities. This is where unique, inspirational opportunities exist to realise dreams and ideas. On your own, or together with others.

HALmsTAD uNiversiTy

Halmstad university became an independent seat of learning in 1983.

But the first courses were launched much earlier,

in the early 1970s.

Lina Lundgren is living her dream. Having studied Biomechanical Engineering at the University, she is now a teacher and a Ph.D. student, conducting research into her major passion in life: kite surfing.


Organisations

Quality of life

Products

C

ollaboration, Innovation and Wellbeing

One PrOFile – three areas OF strengthAt Halmstad University we have three areas of strength within education and research. This means that we profile ourselves in the three areas where we have both a broad base and what stands out and makes us skilled and suc-cessful. These are development and studies of:

OrganisatiOnswith a special focus on innOvatiOn sCienCeIn this area of strength there is a focus on developing organisations in general. Here technical and scientific approaches are applied with social science in exciting combinations. Research deals with, for example, entre-preneurship, innovations, social change, the environ-ment and leadership. At research (doctoral) level we have the right within this field to issue degrees in Innovation Science, which makes us unique.

PrOduCts, PrOCesses and serviCes with a special focus on inFOrmatiOn teChnOlOgyHere there is cross-border education and research. Natural science and technology come together in the fields of bio-mechanics, environmental technology, energy technology, health technology and IT. Research into integrated, intel-ligent systems is an area for which the University is par-ticularly well-known, not least at an international level. We have the right to issue degrees at research (doctoral) level in the field of Information Technology.

Quality OF liFe, WelFare and Culture with a special focus on health and liFestyle One part of the University’s profile focuses on people’s quality of life. This is about welfare and lifestyle, but also about culture, education and learning, sport, healthcare and health. We have both traditional and unique pro-grammes and courses in humanities, social science and behavioural science subjects. Research in this area is often multidisciplinary and covers many different perspectives. At master’s level we can issue degrees in the subject of Health Science, and at research (doctoral) level there are plans to issue degrees in Health and Lifestyle.

COllabOratiOn, innOvatiOn and Wellbeing We also have three watchwords, which we believe are par-ticularly important and which we want to characterise our education and research: collaboration, innovation and well-being. We are working constantly to renew, improve and de-velop these. They are driving forces in our everyday work and promote interaction between our areas of strength.

THe uNiverrsiTy prOfiLe

Halmstad university has three areas of strength

within education and research.


keeP the dream aliveThere can be many reasons why you choose to study. Some people want to “have an education”, some want to continue their education and some have their sights set from the beginning and know exactly what their objective is. Whatever the reason, we want our students to have the opportunity to realise their dreams. In practice this means that whether you choose traditional courses or unique, ex-citing combinations, you can be sure that the education will be of high quality and that the teachers will be skilled educators and outstanding researchers.

All education is linked to research, which mean that the education is based on relevant, current research and that researchers are involved in tuition. We also offer distance learning. This provides opportunities to study also for those who find it difficult, because of geographical dis-tance, work or family circumstances, to follow the courses provided on campus.

If you want to continue your studies, there are one- and two-year master’s courses and postgraduate courses. Since summer 2010 we have also have the right to issue degrees at research (doctoral) level in two areas. Read more about this on page 21.

Halmstad University is one of the few seats of learning to have the right to offer education for the new teacher train-ing degree at the following levels: pre-school, compulsory school and upper secondary school level.

Put briefly: If you study at Halmstad University, you can rest assured that you will have a education that is of high quality and that you will acquire valuable knowledge for the future. An education does not automatically guaran-tee a job, but that opens up new opportunities. Having an academic qualification under your belt increases the options available and security in the labour market. all arOund the WOrldInternationalisation is an important element of ensuring high-quality education. Halmstad University offers plenty of opportunities to study at foreign seats of learning and to do work placements abroad. By the same token, foreign exchange students come to Halmstad and there is a tangible international feel to the campus. The University has many exchange agreements and partnerships with universities all around the world.

gO BeyOND

Halmstad university also has a site in the town Varberg. A few of our programmes

are held in Campus varberg, for example the nursing

and energy economist programmes.

engineer/biologist

public health coachcultural writer

working life scientist

media producer

IT forensic scientist

cad engineer

environmental scientisteconomist

nurse

pre-school teachermechatronics engineer tourism developer

ambulance nurse

international marketing managerweb design

erteacher

energy economist

systems developer


COntaCt With the WOrking liFe – PrOximity tO the labOur marketMany surveys show that our students find jobs after their studies. According to the Swedish Economic Forum (2010), Halmstad University has a significant effect on re-gional development as our students are successful in new business startups.

Year after year we top the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise’s ranking of how good the country’s seats of learning are at collaborating with trade and industry. In 2010 the Programme in Innovation Engineering was the best in the country in all categories, and the same program-me was, together with the Mechanical Engineering pro-gramme, rated the Engineer Course of the Year in Sweden for 2011.

We are convinced that contacts with the working life while people study is part of the reason for this, and we therefore focus in particular on collaboration and creating contacts.

Education at Halmstad University is characterised by close collaboration with trade and industry, organisations and as-sociations. 99 per cent of our programmes include some kind of collaboration with external parties. This can take the form of, for example, work placements, mentoring companies or projects, where theory is interwoven with practical experience.

CONTACTs & reLATiONs

99 per cent of all our programmes

include some kind of collaboration

with external parties.


Creativity and CrOss-bOarder aCtivitiesHalmstad University has a long tradition of developing skills in innovation, entrepreneurship and business de-velopment. For more than 30 years this has been a place where the ability to display creativity and innovative power is constantly being manifested. Our students are success-ful and are often rewarded with awards and grants. One of Sweden’s most successful electronic companies, HMS, once started as a student project, and another student was named recently (February 2011) as one of Sweden’s 101 premier top talents. These are just a couple of examples; we could make the list into a very, very long one.

A “can-do” approach and entrepreneurship are encouraged at Halmstad University. Many of our courses are designed to give students the ability to become used to managing projects, utilising their driving forces and thinking crea-tively. We offer advanced support for anyone who wants to try out an idea or start up their own business. Our student coaches, inspire and support any students who are con-sidering starting up a company or who want to develop a business concept. They are based at Science Park Halm-stad, which is jointly owned by Halmstad University and Halmstad Municipality. At Science Park Halmstad, young companies are given the chance to develop with the aid of professional coaches.

Creativity thrives at utexPOUtexpo is one of Halmstad University’s oldest and greatest traditions. It is the annual degree fair, where hundreds of students display their degree projects, all of them filled with ingenuity and creative passion.

uPPer seCOndary leCturer sten Fåhré’s memOrial FundA donation from the late upper secondary lecturer Sten Fåhré enables the University’s Innovation Engineer stu-dents to be rewarded with grants every year to a total of SEK 400,000 for, among others, “best degree project” and “best student”.

CONTACTs & reLATiONs

For more than 30 years, Halmstad university has

been a place for creativity and innovation.

-

In 2010 Andreas Johansson, Arvid Nilsson and Johan Ohlsson were together rewarded with SEK 100,000 from upper secondary lecturer Sten Fåhré’s Memorial Fund for the best degree projects in the Programme in Innovation Engineering.

The prize money comes from a donation from the late upper secondary lecturer Sten Fåhré. This donation is currently pro- ducing a return of around SEK 400,000 per annum. The grants are intended for students following the Programme in Innovation Engineering at Halmstad University and were awar- ded for the first time in 2004.


Halmstad University undertakes research in many excit-ing fields. Research is often multidisciplinary, i.e. it covers several different subject areas. Another characteristic is the close contact with trade and industry, associations and the public sector.

The research undertaken by our researchers reflects the University’s profile and contributes to the general devel-opment of knowledge in society and at the same time gives courses a link to research. About half of the money that finances research at Halmstad University comes from external donors. The biggest financiers are the Swedish Knowledge Foundation (“KK Foundation”), the Swedish Research Council and Vinnova. Research at the Univer- sity is coordinated by the Faculty board and is organised in research environments within the three areas of strength. area OF strength: OrganisatiOnsThis area of strength contains the following research environments:

Center for innovation, entrepreneurship and learning research – CielCIEL develops research and knowledge of innovation, en-trepreneurship and regional learning. Research relates to areas such as the development of new small and medium-sized companies, and focuses on issues that relate to work on innovation and product development, strategy and management, entrepreneurship, marketing, financing, or-ganising, control and internationalisation.

Centre for studies of Political science, Communi-cation and media – CPkmPolitical scientists and media scientists conduct research in areas such as political communication, media, docu-mentary production, issues of identity and integration, globalisation and democracy.

social Change, learning and social relations – slsrSLSR conducts research into the importance of gender relations for a greater understanding of change and learn-ing processes in society, globalisation, new working and living patterns, increased computer usage and the rapid development of communication technology. (SLSR is also based in the areas of strength Quality of Life, Welfare and Culture.)

OuTsTANDiNg reseArCH

research at Halmstad university is often

multidisciplinary.


area OF strength: PrOduCtsThis area of strength contains the following research environments:

eis – embedded and intelligent systemsEIS is the University’s biggest research environment. EIS has tremendous breadth and a clear focus. Embedded computer, sensor and communication systems based on new, enabling technology are being developed for intel-ligent products, processes and services.

mechanical engineering and industrial design – mtekThis research environment is aimed at products’ func- tional features and at early product phases of product development, design and digital product models. There is also research into industrial photonics, lightweight struc-tures and wind power technology.

biological and environmental systems – blessThis environment conducts research into biology and chemistry, with a focus on ecology/environmental science and biomedicine/biomechanics.

area OF strength: Quality OF liFeThis area of strength contains the following research environments:

Center of research on Welfare health and sport – CvhiCVHI conducts research into subjects such as public health sciences, disability studies, health studies, cultural geography, nursing, health pedagogy, psychology, sport psychology, sport, social odontology, social work, soci-ology and linguistics.

research into education and learning – FullResearch in this environment deals with subject didac-tics (including the content of teacher training), practical research, collaboration with municipalities and schools, and relationships between education/schools and the out-side world.

Context and Cultural barriers – kk Context and Cultural Barriers is a forum for the University’s research in the field of Humanities.

OuTsTANDiNg reseArCH

Our research has close contact and good relations

with trade and industry, associations and the

public sector.

At the University is the Centre for Health Technology Halland, a development environment in which companies, users, municipalities in Halland, Region Halland and the University work together to develop products and services in the field of health technology.

BILD KOMMER RÅN ROLAND


Halmstad University has had the right since 2010 to issue doctoral degrees in the fields of Innovation Science and Information Technology.

Innovation Science may be viewed in the context of econ-omic development and changes in trade and industry and society, and deals with issues such as entrepreneur-ship, company management and business development. Research education in this field focuses on the dynamics of innovation processes, the interplay between different players and commercial potential, particularly in inter-national contexts.

Information Technology includes, for example, computer science, telecommunications, systems engineering and elec-trical engineering. Initially research education is organised in two subjects: computer technology and signal and sys-tems engineering.

The library is an important shared knowledge resource for education and research within the University. It is a part of the campus environment that encourages study, meetings and creativity among students, teachers and researchers. The library is a public research library, open to anyone who needs to use its collections and its competence.

The University Library contributes, through its collec-tions and service, to ensuring that Halmstad University is a specialised seat of learning with internationally acknowl-edged research, research education and education that is actively involved in the development of the individual and society.

reseArCH eDuCATiON

Since 2010 we have the right to issue doctoral

degrees in the fields of innovation science and Information Technology.

uNiversiTy LiBrAry

The library is an important shared knowledge resource for education and research.

Katrin Sjöberg is a Ph.D. student at Halmstad University who has been charged by the ETSI, a European body that produces standards for telecommunications, with the task of investigating how current standards for wireless and more secure vehicle communication can be developed.


develOPing tOgetherCollaboration with other parts of society is central to and important for the University. We believe that knowledge develops best in collaboration with different players, and in an interplay between theory and practice. Our “glocal” networks, both in our region and in the rest of the world, are wide-ranging and relationships with trade and indus-try, the public sector, associations and other institutions of research and education are close.

A large part of our collaboration is aimed at giving students contact with life at work during their studies. It is important that students’ knowledge is linked to the reality in which they will be working after their studies. Collaboration offers a chance to try out theoretical skills in practice, to make contacts and create networks. We encourage entre-preneurship and what we refer to as a “can-do” approach. Our University has always been a breeding ground for innovations and new business startups. Many of our cour-ses give students the ability to become used to managing projects, utilising their driving forces and thinking cre- atively – thanks to a large extent to the courses’ close col-laboration with trade and industry, the public sector and associations. The benefits are mutual. Companies and or-ganisations gain access to the University’s knowledge and competence, as well as an opportunity to put their oper-ations on show and guarantee future recruitment needs.

There are many ways of collaborating with the University. They can involve anything from students undertaking small projects at a workplace to more long-term research work. Here are a few examples of collaboration:

Collaboration with studentsDegree projects and essays, joint project assignments, work placements and mentoring company operations.

Collaboration with researchers Joint research projects, the meeting place Centre for Health Technology Halland and research on assignment.

skills development Contract education, Regional Development Centre, the Management Academy and the Halland Equal Oppor-tunity Centre.

influence on the university’s educational coursesEducation in collaboration, open lectures, guest lectures, programme and industry advice, qualified occupational courses and local study centres.

COLLABOrATe WiTH us

Collaboration with other parts of society is important

in terms of developing education and research.

it is equally important that the knowledge that

is developed here reaches society and

can be used.

Stamp:SwEDISH CHAMPION OF COLLABORATIONThe Confederation of Swedish Enterprise


innOvatiOn suPPOrt at the university It is the University’s ambition to make use of the crea-tivity and the wealth of ideas that exist among our stu-dents and researchers. Students who want to further de-velop ideas for new products, services or companies can try out their business ideas during their studies through the University’s pre-incubator. Researchers who want to develop research results in a corporate form are offered support in the same way.

The pre-incubator is run by Halmstad University and is located in Science Park Halmstad. Science Park Halm-stad, which is owned jointly by Halmstad University and Halmstad Municipality, runs the incubator. The incubator is the next step for new business startups following a time in the pre-incubator. The incubator looks after young companies from academia, trade and industry and the public sector, and offers support in the growth process. Science Park Halmstad’s activities also include a company hotel.

Besides help with business startups, the University’s inno-vation support includes activities such as student inspi-ration, career guidance and grants. Student coaches are there to support, coach and inspire students along the path to entrepreneurship and new business startups in all subject areas.

The University’s holding company invests – through ven-ture capital and competence – in knowledge-based local and regional companies with a link to the University.

iNNOvATiON

Through our innovation support, we help both

students and researchers to further develop ideas

for new products, services or companies.

The university’s student coaches “Ta steget” (“Take the plunge”)


it’s easy tO enJOy yOurselF in a Creative envirOnmentIt’s easy to enjoy yourself at Halmstad University. The Uni-versity area, the campus, is named after the famous Swedish artist Olle Bærtling and is called “Kvarteret Bærtling” (“The Bærtling Area”).

On campus, it is all on one site with tuition facilities, pro-ject rooms, library, gym, sports hall, restaurants, cafes and student union building. It has an active student life with a range of different associations. It’s a short journey by bike between the campus and the city centre – and the sea, of course!

At Halmstad University we strive to ensure that our stu-dents get the most out of their studies, are healthy and develop positively. We work effectively on equal oppor-tunity and diversity, and have students with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.

There are no high thresholds here. The study environment is characterised by proximity between teachers and stu-dents, between subject areas and between the University and other parts of society.

The University offers a creative, developmental environ-ment. It offers support for students who want to start up their own business, and there are regular activities to in-spire and provoke innovation. There are also a number of functions that provide help and support in everyday stu-dent life, including Student Health, the “Skrivpunkten” language support service and the Student Centre.

sTuDyiNg iN HALmsTAD

The city, the beaches, the atmosphere – it’s easy to feel at home in Halmstad.

it’s quick and easy to cycle between the city centre, the forests and the sea –

and the University.

HALmsTAD – THe CiTy WiTH THree HeArTs

28 • HALMSTAD UNIVERSITY

halmstad university PO Box 823 • SE 301 18 Halmstad Sweden • Visiting Address: Kristian IV:s väg 3

Telephone: +46 35 16 71 00 • Telefax: +46 35 18 61 92 E-mail, Registry clerk: [email protected] • www.hh.se

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Halmstad University’s campus is known as ”Kvarteret Bært-ling” (The Bærtling Area) after the famous Swedish artist Olle Bærtling (1911–1981), who was born in Halmstad. Many of his works can be seen around the campus, thanks to a partnership with the Bærtling Foundation and Halmstad Municipality.

the university of opportunities

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